Quantum Detailed Balance Condition Research Articles

Random Lindblad Operators Obeying Detailed Balance

We introduce different ensembles of random Lindblad operators [Formula: see text], which satisfy quantum detailed balance condition with respect to given stationary state [Formula: see text] of size [Formula: see text], and investigate their spectral properties. Such operators are known as ‘Davies generators’ and their eigenvalues are real; however, their spectral densities depend on [Formula: see text]. We propose different structured ensembles of random matrices, which allow us to tackle the problem analytically in the extreme cases of Davies generators corresponding to random [Formula: see text] with a nondegenerate spectrum or the maximally mixed stationary state, [Formula: see text]. Interestingly, in the latter case the density can be reasonably well approximated by integrating out the imaginary component of the spectral density characteristic to the ensemble of random unconstrained Lindblad operators. The case of asymptotic states with partially degenerated spectra is also addressed. Finally, we demonstrate that similar universal properties hold for the detailed balance-obeying Kolmogorov generators obtained by applying superdecoherence to an ensemble of random Davies generators. In this way we construct an ensemble of random classical generators with imposed detailed balance condition.

Thermal equilibrium in Gaussian dynamical semigroups

We characterize all Gaussian dynamical semigroups in continuous-variables quantum systems of $n$-bosonic modes which have a thermal Gibbs state as a stationary solution. This is performed through an explicit relation between the diffusion and dissipation matrices, which characterize the semigroup dynamics, and the covariance matrix of the thermal equilibrium state. We also show that Alicki's quantum detailed-balance condition, based on a Gelfand-Naimark-Segal inner product, allows the determination of the temperature dependence of the diffusion and dissipation matrices and the identification of different Gaussian dynamical semigroups which share the same thermal equilibrium state.

Thermodynamic consistency of quantum master equations

Starting from a microscopic system-baths description, we derive the general conditions for a time-local quantum master equation (QME) to satisfy the first and second law of thermodynamics at the fluctuating level. Using counting statistics, we show that the fluctuating second law can be rephrased as a Generalized Quantum Detailed Balance condition (GQDB), i.e., a symmetry of the time-local generators which ensures the validity of the fluctuation theorem. When requiring in addition a strict system-bath energy conservation, the GQDB reduces to the usual notion of detailed balance which ensures QMEs with Gibbsian steady states. However, if energy conservation is only required on average, QMEs with non Gibbsian steady states can still maintain a certain level of thermodynamic consistency. Applying our theory to commonly used QMEs, we show that the Redfield equation breaks the GQDB, and that some recently derived approximation schemes based on the Redfield equation (which hold beyond the secular approximation and allow to derive a QME of Lindblad form) satisfy the GQDB and the average first law. We find that performing the secular approximation is the only way to ensure the first and second law at the fluctuating level.

Invariant States for a Quantum Markov Semigroup Constructed from Quantum Bernoulli Noises

Quantum Bernoulli noises are the family of annihilation and creation operators acting on Bernoulli functionals, which satisfy a canonical anti-commutation relation (CAR) in equal-time. In this paper, we consider a quantum Markov semigroup constructed from quantum Bernoulli noises. Among others, we show that the semigroup has infinitely many faithful invariant states that are diagonal, and satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition.

Gradient flow and entropy inequalities for quantum Markov semigroups with detailed balance

We study a class of ergodic quantum Markov semigroups on finite-dimensional unital C⁎-algebras. These semigroups have a unique stationary state σ, and we are concerned with those that satisfy a quantum detailed balance condition with respect to σ. We show that the evolution on the set of states that is given by such a quantum Markov semigroup is gradient flow for the relative entropy with respect to σ in a particular Riemannian metric on the set of states. This metric is a non-commutative analog of the 2-Wasserstein metric, and in several interesting cases we are able to show, in analogy with work of Otto on gradient flows with respect to the classical 2-Wasserstein metric, that the relative entropy is strictly and uniformly convex with respect to the Riemannian metric introduced here. As a consequence, we obtain a number of new inequalities for the decay of relative entropy for ergodic quantum Markov semigroups with detailed balance.

Entropy Production and Detailed Balance for a Class of Quantum Markov Semigroups

We give an explicit entropy production formula for a class of quantum Markov semigroups, arising in the weak coupling limit of a system coupled with reservoirs, whose generators [Formula: see text] are sums of other generators [Formula: see text] associated with positive Bohr frequencies [Formula: see text] of the system. As a consequence, we show that any such semigroup satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition with respect to an invariant state if and only if all semigroups generated by each [Formula: see text] do so with respect to the same invariant state.

Entropy Production for Quantum Markov Semigroups

An invariant state of a quantum Markov semigroup is an equilibrium state if it satisfies a quantum detailed balance condition. In this paper, we introduce a notion of entropy production for faithful normal invariant states of a quantum Markov semigroup on B(h) as a numerical index measuring "how much far" they are from equilibrium. The entropy production is defined as the derivative of the relative entropy of the one-step forward and backward evolution in analogy with the classical probabilistic concept. We prove an explicit trace formula expressing the entropy production in terms of the completely positive part of the generator of a norm continuous quantum Markov semigroup showing that it turns out to be zero if and only if a standard quantum detailed balance condition holds.

THE ASYMMETRIC EXCLUSION QUANTUM MARKOV SEMIGROUP

In this paper we study a class of quantum Markov semigroups whose restriction to an abelian sub-algebra coincides, on the configurations with finite support, with the exclusion type semigroups introduced in Liggett's book14 of exchange rates [Formula: see text] not symmetric in the index site r, s. We find a sufficient condition for the existence of infinitely many faithful diagonal (or classical) invariant states for the semigroup, that satisfy a quantum detailed balance condition. This class of semigroups arises naturally in the stochastic limit of quantum interacting particles in the sense of Accardi and Kozyrev.1 We call these semigroups asymmetric exclusion quantum Markov semigroups and the associated processes asymmetric exclusion quantum processes.

A Lindblad model for a spin chain coupled to heat baths

We study an XY model which consists of a spin chain coupled to heat baths. We give a repeated quantum interaction Hamiltonian describing this model. We compute the explicit form of the associated Lindblad generator in the case of the spin chain coupled to one, two and several heat baths. We further study the properties of the quantum master equation such as approach to equilibrium, local equilibrium states, entropy production and quantum detailed balance condition.

Simulated annealing and quantum detailed balance

The analogue of simulated annealing is considered for time-inhomogeneous evolutions of a von Neumann algebra of operators, whose instantaneous generator at each timet satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition with respect to a faithful normal state which depends on time through a suitable cooling schedule. Convergence to the (nonfaithful) limiting state is proved under the usual kinds of assumptions. The approach is interesting in view of possible applications to stochastic Ising models and to Boltzmann machines.

The stochastic Wigner–Weisskopf atom

Using techniques of quantum stochastic calculus, a dilation scheme is developed to describe the evolution of a two-level atom, which is initially in a (nontracial) Gibbs state, through a radiation field. The Wigner–Weisskopf approximation is assumed but not the rotating wave approximation, the latter being shown to be equivalent to the requirement that the dilation satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition with respect to the initial state.

Markov dilations and quantum detailed balance

We construct quantum stochastic processes whose multi-time correlation functions, with suitable time ordering, can be obtained from a quantum dynamical semigroup. We prove that such a process defines a stationary Markov dilation of the associated semigroup if and only if (up to technicalities) the semigroup satisfies the quantum detailed balance condition with respect to its stationary state.

Quantum detailed balance and KMS condition

Quantum detailed balance and KMS condition

Quantum detailed balance and KMS condition

A definition of detailed balance for quantum dynamical semigroups is given, and its close connection with the KMS condition is investigated.